Kids have found Xmas presents - what do I say?

[halfdeaf]

First-time mumsenetter desparate for advice. I have four daughters, 9, 7, 5 and 2. Forgot to put oldest daughter's present away and 7 year old found it, came and asked me what it was for.

Panicked and said Daddy was keeping it for a colleague's daughter's birthday surprise.

Didn't think oldest daughter had seen it but later she mentioned how much she'd like her own computer (present is a Bratz learning laptop - v.cheap in Argos if anyone's stuck for ideas) but she'd already sent her list to Santa and it most definitely wasn't on it.

Short of returning present and racking what's left of brains for another idea, cannot think what to do. If it appears on Christmas morning, they're bound to click that there's no Santa.

PLEASE give good advice soon.

[LedodgyChristmasjumper]

Tell them that Santa brings what's in the stocking and their main presents are from you. That's what we do. I decided that early on so Santa didn't get all of the bloody credit.

[Hulababy]

Do they believe Santa brings everything?

We get arund this issue by making sure DD nows that Santa only brings one special gift of his own (we don't do stockings but I know in some households santa doesn't them). He is also sometimes used as a delivery service, such as for grandparents if they chose to send them to him in time.

Can you not just tell your DD that you listening to her when she told you what she wanted, and thought it would be nice to get her one from yourselves, as your gift to her?

[foofi]

I would say Santa is too busy to do it all at once so he dropped some things off early for you to keep safe.

[mummyofexcitedprincesses]

We don't let Santa tke all of the credit in this house, he brings a few things but the main gifts are from us. Maybe it is time to share the glory with the big guy!

[MrsStig]

I don't tink they'll figure it out.

I reckon kids want to belive in Santa, so they will continue to believe for now.

[KitKatQueensSpeech]

Not necessarily, How about telling her that if its something she would really like from santa she should very quickly send him another note / maybe you could offer to ring him when all the girls are there and menton the laptop, would actually reinforce belief of santa....would also guarantee good behaviour and mummy having a phone line direct to santa could be handy

[whomovedmychocolate]

"The North Pole is full because of the postal strike so we are helping hide some things here - don't tell your sisters, it's a surprise"

[Washersaurus]

Oh yes, Father Christmas only fills the stocking and maybe brings one special present here.

How do you say thank you to people otherwise?

[nigglewiggle]

Aren't we a devious bunch . DD1 (3.9) found a stocking filler intended for DD2. DH stepped in with "it's a present for you to give to your sister" - unusually quick witted!

[mo3g]

You could say that santa must have thought she would have liked that present 2 so got her one ?

[mysteryfairy]

If the oldest two DDs are 9 and 7 the OP can hardly change the routine of what Santa brings and what is attributed to other givers. The children would be bound to click that it was different from previous year's and the no Santa evidence would be damning.

If it was me I'd probably do the return the laptop suggestion you make in your OP and start again - but then I am very anti-Bratz!

If this is any help when my DS was about 7 he actually tried on and was bought some football boots just before xmas on the basis that we were buying them on behalf of a friend's son with the same size feet and he never suspected for a second they were actually for him - he was wistfully saying in the shop how lucky friends' son was. We then went with Father Xmas heard much you liked them and so got you some too and he was very impressed and utterly convinced. Same thing might work with the laptop?

[frazzled74]

let them see present go out of house when dh goes to work, he will give it to his colleague for daughters birthday present. Then sneak it back into house.You could always suggest that if dd is extra good, she could post one last request to santa.

[Washersaurus]

Why not just say that it was something that YOU thought she would like in addition to what Father Christmas brings her?

I don't understand not telling them who gives their presents. Surely they are old enough to realise that everyone (almost) is doing their Christmas shopping - who do they think they are shopping for if FC brings everything? Don't they give presents?

Where is the spirit of Christmas if they are just receiving from FC? Am I over thinking this?

My mum wouldn't have given us a present that we had found out about (she is harsh).

[ellokitty]

Can you swap it with anyone? Or is there anyone who has not yet bought their presents for your DD who might want to relieve you of it?

In the past, when my DD found a present I had bought her, I asked my mum if I could swap it with something she had got to give to DD (of the same value). Then DD still gets the present, it does not come from your house, so they do not make the connection and everyone's happy! That is, assuming that your mum or whoever would be happy to swap gifts. My mum does happily, we're always doing this, but I appreciate some people would not!

[grendel]

When we found our Christmas presents hidden under her bed, my very sensible mother explained to us that of course, Father Christmas doesn't really deliver all the presents on Christmas Eve. That would be impossible wouldn't it? What REALLY happens is that FC delivers the presents a few days early and the mums and dads wrap them and pop them in their children's stocking for him. That way he has enough time to deliver to all the girls and boys around the world.

My brother and I thought, "Oh. That makes a lot of sense" and went away happy.

[BexieID]

I feel quite bad as we've not instilled the belief in Tom about Santa. He's 3.8. In fact, his main present is under the xmas tree. We have nowhere else to put it and we're expecting DC2 xmas day, so have an influx of baby things in our teeny flat, as well as the xmas bits! Poor boy. Me and DP both grew up believing, until I was about 8 when I caught my dad bringing in the stockings, lol.

All his wee friends at nursery believe so have to be carefull what I say in front of them. Have to make a concerted effort next year with the Santa thing!

Back to OP, is DD1 getting everything shes asked for on list? If not, the laptop could be a substitute gift as Santa was out of something else?

[chaostrulyreigns]

Does your DD normally get money for christmas from rich uncles etc?

Could you suggest she gets herself one after christmas with her own money?

[PoppyIsApain]

Dare i say your 9 year old proberly ha clicked on by now but hasnt let on i know that is what happened when my sister and i were younger.

[kreecherlivesupstairs]

If you don't want to take it back I'd go with the idea that FC phoned you and you mentioned to him that she'd like one. He checked his naughty or nice list and she came out in the nice, thus deserving a present. My dd firmly belives that the big man phones me regularly. She is remarkably accepting that she can't speak to him though. I have to sayI am astonished that she does really still believe. She is 8.7

[Maveta]

When I was 9 my older sis found a bunch of annuals ready for xmas hidden in my parents room.. I expressed my concern that santa might not be real to my mum. She said if I didn´t believe then he couldn´t bring me presents, could he? Suddenly my belief was restored though yes, from then on I didn´t believe but we still got stockings til we were in our twenties and it was still nice to wake to little pressies on xmas morning. We had a little sis so then the magic came about sharing the secret and making santa special for her.

[Maveta]

I also got sent this link santa´s pnp so you could do this for each of your kids if you like, in hers you could put she asked for a computer... she might stop believing inside but it keeps the spirit alive..

[QuintessentialShadows]

Return it.

Those "learning laptops" are really just suitable for 3 year olds anyway.

[teafortwo]

I am also in a panic!!!

I bought dd loads of books for Christmas at her school book fair. We were e-mailed yesterday to say - The books will be passed to you through your child this week.... Eeeeeeeeeeeeekkk!!!! Why didn't I think that might happen?

If they don't come in a sealed packet (wishful thinking?) I am going to tell her we bought them to post to her penfriend for Christmas...

[teafortwo]

Grrrr - that was supposed to be - - which is more appropriate!!!

[gagamama]

I think this is a rite of passage TBH. It's the first step in realising that Santa isn't real... and really, it's much nicer for them to gradually work it out themselves than to suddenly be told and be heartbroken. I also agree that children will believe for as long as they want to believe. I remember being about 10 and knowing in my head that Father Christmas wasn't real, but then waking up on Christmas morning and there was a 'different' smell in the air, a combination of smoke and old people. I was convinced it must be Santa and was swept along for another year.

My mum has still refuses to admit to me that Father Christmas isn't real.